# Kurtdereli Mehmet Pehlivan Oil Wrestling tournament > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/kurtdereli-mehmet-pehlivan-oil-wrestling-tournament > Updated: 2026-08-23T16:59:13.000Z. Sources: 18. Developments: 2. The 66th Traditional Kurtdereli Mehmet Pehlivan Oil Wrestling tournament took place in Balıkesir, hosted by the Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality and Karesi Municipality at the Kurtdere Er Meydanı. The event began with opening ceremonies, religious services, and the opening of the Kurtdereli Mehmet Pehlivan Memorial House. Over the course of three days, 1,642 wrestlers participated in the competition, including 73 athletes competing specifically for the head wrestler title. Mustafa Taş was crowned the head wrestler (başpehlivan) after defeating İsmail Koç in the final match to claim the gold belt. To reach the final, Taş defeated Feyzullah Aktürk in a match lasting over an hour, while Koç advanced by defeating Ali İhsan Batmaz in the semifinals. Aktürk and Batmaz shared third place. During the event, the traditional auction for the wrestling chieftain (ağalık) for the upcoming year was held. Businessman İzzet Tığlı won the title with a bid of 7,010,010 TL. Balıkesir Metropolitan Mayor Ahmet Akın emphasized the importance of preserving this ancestral sport for future generations. ## Claims - Mustafa Taş won the gold belt and the title of head wrestler (başpehlivan). (corroborated by 3 sources) - A total of 1,642 wrestlers, including 73 head wrestlers, participated. (corroborated by 3 sources) - İsmail Koç finished in second place. (corroborated by 3 sources) - İzzet Tığlı won the wrestling lordship (ağalık) auction with 7,010,010 TL. (corroborated by 3 sources) - The 66th Traditional Kurtdereli Mehmet Pehlivan Oil Wrestling was held in Balıkesir. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Feyzullah Aktürk and Ali İhsan Batmaz shared third place. (corroborated by 2 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-23: Mustafa Taş wins head wrestler title at Kurtdereli oil wrestling Mustafa Taş won the gold belt as the head wrestler at the 66th Traditional Kurtdereli Mehmet Pehlivan Oil Wrestling tournament in Balıkesir, defeating İsmail Koç in the final. 14 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mustafa-ta-wins-gold-belt-at-kurtdereli-mehmet-pehlivan-oil-wrestling ### 2026-08-21: Kurtdereli Mehmet Pehlivan Oil Wrestling begins in Balıkesir The 66th Traditional Kurtdereli Mehmet Pehlivan Oil Wrestling tournament has begun in Balıkesir, Turkey, featuring 1,642 wrestlers competing over three days for honors and the gold belt. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/kurtdereli-mehmet-pehlivan-oil-wrestling-begins-in-balkesir --- Cite as: Kurtdereli Mehmet Pehlivan Oil Wrestling tournament. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/kurtdereli-mehmet-pehlivan-oil-wrestling-tournament